Methods and systems for reducing inflammation by neuromodulation and administration of an anti-inflammatory drug

1. A method of treating an inflammatory response, the method comprising:

stimulating a subject's inflammatory reflex to inhibit the inflammatory response by stimulating the subject's vagus nerve, wherein the stimulation is selected from the group consisting of electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve and mechanical stimulation of the vagus nerve, wherein the step of stimulating the subject's inflammatory reflex is repeated at regular intervals of at least about 4 hours; and

administering an anti-inflammatory drug.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of stimulating the subject's inflammatory reflex comprises electrically stimulating the subject's inflammatory reflex to inhibit the immune response.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of administering the anti-inflammatory drug comprises systemic administration of the anti-inflammatory drug.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of administering the anti-inflammatory drug comprises administering the anti-inflammatory drug before stimulating the inflammatory reflex.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of stimulating the inflammatory reflex comprises repeatedly and periodically stimulating the subject's inflammatory reflex.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anti-inflammatory drug is a TNF blocker or an IL-6 inhibitor.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inflammatory response is due to rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, or Crohn's disease.

8. A method of treating an inflammatory response, the method comprising:

stimulating a subject's inflammatory reflex to inhibit the inflammatory response by stimulating the subject's vagus nerve, wherein the stimulation is selected from the group consisting of electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve and mechanical stimulation of the vagus nerve, wherein the step of stimulating the subject's inflammatory reflex is repeated at regular intervals of at least about 4 hours; and

administering a drug that suppresses immune function by blocking one or more immune mediators, wherein the immune mediator is selected from the group consisting of TNF, IL-6, IL-6 receptor, janus-activated kinase, spleen-associated kinase, CD20, B-cell activating factor, B lymphocyte stimulator, CD25, IL-2R, IL-1, α4-integin, CD52, sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulator, nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 pathway activator, α 4 β 7 integrin, IL-23, and IL-17.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of stimulating the subject's inflammatory reflex comprises electrically stimulating the subject's inflammatory reflex to inhibit the immune response.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of administering the drug comprises systemic administration of the drug.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the inflammatory response is due to rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, or Crohn's disease.